Pneumatic tire.



0. M. PAPONQ PNEUMATIC TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.,S, 1912.

- Patented July 28, 1914.

moegsza I C/zarlesjX/i Papal,

l ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. PAPON, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EUGENE BLEYER, DE LAVEROCK, PENNSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

My improvements relate to that class of; tires intended for use in connection with. automobiles and sinnlar iiiotoi'w'eliicles, in

which the tire, asa whole, is constructed in a plurality of independent segmental portions, and the principal ob ects of my in- 4 vention are to simplify the initial construction of such tires, to prolong thclife thereof, and to afford the most desirable conditions at the meeting edges of the tire segments.

In the drawings, Figure I, represents a longitudinal section through a' portion of a tire embodying my imprmements. Fig. 11, a view in perspective of one of the'tire segments as seen from whatv may be termed the inner side thereof. Fig. III, is a trans: verse section on the line 111, III, of Fig. 1.

Referring to the tire as a whole, it comprises a plurality of casing segments, prcfer ably siX in number, eachsubtending aireqnal arc of the total circumstances (in this in stance sixty degrees) anda similar number of inner tubular segments adapted to beindependently inflated. For clearness of illnstration l. have shown in Fig. I, thecasing segmentmarked 1, without its inner prion-- matic'tube, and the casing segment. marked 20, as comprising the coniplete strncture with the inner tube" in p'ositicn aim inflated. f

As the casing segments, i'espectively, and the pneumatic tube, segments,respectively, are counterparts of one another, it will only be necessary to describe in detail a single one of'oacli, and for such purpose I- shall now refer to the details in construction of that casing se ment which is indicated at 1, in Fig. I.

The'casing segment may be economically and readily constructed as follows :An ordinary annular tire. casing, having the cross section indicated at 2, in Fig. III, and there fore provided with the usual seating member'4l, adapted to engage with the inwardly projecting edges of the tire-seat upon the felly and also having the longitudinal slot Specification bf Letters Patent.

Application filed December 3, 1912. Serial No. 734,667.

Patented July 28, 1914.

3, extending through said seating member, is cut into symmetrical segments of the proper length, each preferably corresponding to sixty degrees of the total circumference. Each end of said out portion is then closed by means of a deeply dished plug 5, whose external periphery fits snugly within the rounded wall of the casing, the plug being provided with a lateral extension 6, fitting into and closing the end of the slot 3, of the casing, asshown clearly in Fig. III. The.inwardly extending peripheral wall which forms the dish-0f said plug is tapered, as indicated at 7, so that at its extremity it: pra'ctically vanishes to a'sharp edge. Said plug may be formed entirely of rubber, or of any suitablecompound thereof, containing fabric, such as is adapted for use in tire construction, but it should be of such a charac ter as to be capable of being applied and secured, by vulcanization, to the inner surface of the casing. I prefer to provide as an adjunctive securing means, rivets 8, which ex tend through the thicker part of thewvall 7 of the plug and the adjaeent portion of the casin U'po n the external end surface of the plug, and of the surrounding casing, I

then apply, and Vulcanize' in position, a

,layer 10, of rubber, which thus completely covers the joint between the plug and the casing."

By reference to Figs. II, and III, it will ..be noted that the plug and the Wall thereof,

close tl1esl0t"3,fo'r' a short distance from the end, the tapered wall however, permitting the sides of the slot to give somewhat as they are spread-"apart for the purpose of admit- "ting the deflated inner tube. It will be imin Fig. 1, which indicates the inner pneumatic tube in position, it will be seen that said inner tube 21, is segmental, and that, each segment is closed, at each end, by means of a. deeply dished plug 22, Whose Wall 23,

is tapered preferably bothinternally and externally, the external surface substantially conforming to the internalsurface. of the all 7 ,of the casingiplug, so that when in.-

flated, there is a snug fit at'the end region. Each inner tube segment is also provided.

with an individual inflating nozzle 24, hav- 1 ing at its inner extremity 'a 'fiange 25, and

intervening reinforcing pieces 26, Saidnozzle is also provided with a wing nut 27,

and clamping piece 28, which may be of the ordinary typeiand which serve to clamp the tire segment to its seat upon the telly. The

inner tube segments can be readily obtained readily procurable standard articles, and that only the plugs need be specially made.

The inner tube segment can, when in a deflated condition, be readily inserted within its casing segment, by distending the slot in the latter, and, when subsequently inflated, can be forced into proper position. The meeting ends of the adjacent segments being provided with the layers of rubber 10,- above described, make a tight fit with one another,

and thus prevent the admission of grit or other abrasive substances, and also of mols ture.

I 'am'aware that it is not new to construct pneumatic tires in removable segments, and do not broadly claim the same, the features of my invention being addressed to the im provement of the structure of the independent sections of the casing segments themsel'ves, and also of the, inner tube segmentsas above set forth.

While I have described a convenient method-of procedure for the construction of my improved tire, which permits the utilization of certain standard parts, it will of course be understood that I do not limit myself to the employment of element so made.

' I claim: v

l. Ima pneumatic tire, comprising a plurality ofindependently removable segment portions, the combination of a casing segment having a longitudinal slot; independ ent dished end plugs having tapered annular Walls fitting snugly within the respective ends of said casing segment, and secured therein to form a substantially tight joint, with the inner wall of the. casing; and an inner pneumatic tube segment, having end portions which conform externally in shape to the inner surface of the end plugs of the casing segment, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pneumatic tire, comprising a pinrality of independently removable segment portions, the combination of a casing seg- .ment having a longitudinal slot; independ ent dished end plugs having tapered annular walls fitting-snugly within the respective ends of said casing segment, said end plugs having projecting portions which extend into the ends of said slot, said end plugs and projections being secured in position by a substantially tight joint, with the wall of the casing; and a layer of rubber applied over the entire exterior end surface of each end plug and the surrounding end portion of the casing, substantially as set forth.

. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylva nia, this twenty-seventh day of November,-

' oHARLEs'M. PAPON,

Witnesses: JAMES H. BELL E. L. FULLERTON. 

